Meningitis Negligence Claims

Meningitis is an infection affecting the brain. It usually comes on very quickly and it is vital that it is diagnosed as early as possible and treatment is given immediately to avoid permanent disability.

How we can help

We can assist with identifying whether your circumstances give rise to a claim and then support you throughout the legal process, making sure appropriate compensation is paid.

Delayed diagnosis of meningitis can have devastating consequences. The Clinical Negligence Team have extensive experience in dealing with meningitis negligence claims caused by the missed or delayed diagnosis of meningitis.

After you first make contact, we will then:

Provide an analysis of your potential case

Advise whether you should pursue it further

Explore ways of funding your case with you if we believe you have a case

Our expert lawyers – here to help you

At the Clinical Negligence Team, all of our partners are accredited specialist practitioners with The Law Society. We have extensive and proven experience in dealing with meningitis compensation claims. The team is ready to listen to you and help you understand your legal options.

FAQs

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection causing swelling of the membranes around the brain. Viral meningitis is much more common but generally less severe with fewer cases resulting in permanent injury. Bacterial meningitis is however far more severe and sadly more difficult to identify. This is because the symptoms of bacterial meningitis, such as stiffness and tiredness can be confused with other much less serious conditions such as flu.

If not treated promptly meningitis can have permanent physical and mental effects including deafness, blindness and brain damage leaving the patient with associated mental conditions like epilepsy and learning difficulties.

Meningitis can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children who cannot explain their symptoms and are therefore more vulnerable to the condition being missed entirely or misdiagnosed. Meningitis in children can develop out of other bacteria based infections such as e-coli or Group B Streptococcus (GBS).

When might I have a claim?

When we are ill we are heavily reliant on the clinical experience of the doctors and nurses around us to properly identify the problem and provide appropriate and timely treatment. Treatment for meningitis should begin as soon as the infection is suspected and a delay in even just a few hours can have a significant impact on the outcome.

Meningitis negligence claims can be brought where a prompt diagnosis should have been made and was overlooked or mistaken for another less serious condition and has resulted in injury to you or your child. Generally, the mistake occurs when doctors think that there is another illness to blame for the condition, such as the flu.

What sort of compensation might I receive?

In law there are two different types of damages, general damages to compensate for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, and special damages to compensate for specific financial losses, both in the past and in the future. Where the delay has resulted in a severe brain injury the likely level of damages will be very high, amounting to several million pounds. This is mainly based on the level of care and support that will be for the rest of their lives including additional needs in terms of accommodation, aids and adaptations and therapies.

Cases of missed or delayed diagnosis of meningitis where the injury is far more severe than otherwise would have been the case can lead to a great deal of distress as well as financial hardship. It is important that you seek expert advice to ensure that you receive the best possible outcome for you or your child to provide the compensation and care needed now and in the future.

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